Method of and apparatus for manufacturing artificial foliage



29,1942, R. R. TUCKER RRR 2,306,835

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AR'IIFICL FOLIAGE Filed Aug. 12,- 1940 s sheets-shea 1 'l' Y I 5:

' /0 ma maagd DeC' 29, 1942. u R. R. TUCKER x-:rAL 2,305,835'

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE INVENTORS Den. 29, i942.- R. RI TUR-E n AL l 2,306,835

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS. FOR MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE Filed Aug. l2, 1940 8 Sheets--Sheet` 3 Dec.v 29, 1942.

R. R. TUCKER ETAL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE "Elim Filed Aug. l2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Dec. r29, 1942. R. R. TUCKER :a1-A1. 2,306,835

METHOD lOF AND APPARATUS FOR'MANFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FvOLIAGE Filed Aug. `l2, 1940 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. R. TUCKER ET AL .METHQD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING'ARTIFI'CIL FOLIAGE Filed AugQlz', 1940l 8 sheets-smet e ill WMM/MW Dea 29, 1942.

R. R. TUCKER ET AL 2,306,835,l

`METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE Filed Aug. 12, 1940V a sheets-sheet 7 EE n , f-g. Jaz.

T0 POWER LINE Dec. Z9, .142. *l R. R. TcKERaE-r AL f 2,306,835

METHGDF 0F ANDAPPARTUS FOR MANUFACTRNG ARTIFCIAL FOLIAGE- Filed Aug. l2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8` -in apparatus.

4the invention'is realized:

fFig. I is a view`V of, the machine inperspective;

Patented-Dec. 29,' 1942 METHOD F AND APPARATUSFOR-MANU- FACTURING ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE 1mm n. Tucker and Bernard A. Weyl, ,riusburgh, Pa., assignors to Bernard A. Weyl Incorporated, a corporation of Pennsylvania -Application August 12, .1940, Serial No. 352,278

. 45 Claims.

Ourv invention relates to the manufacture of artificial foliage, vandconsists both in method and The object of our invention is to accomplish the manufactureof artificial foliage more economically, and with greatenprecision and uniformity of product. `In the realization of 'such object, we have perfected an improved method of procedure, by virtue of whichmechanical and automatic production becomes feasible, and in conjunction with such method we have developed an exceedingly effective machine.

-Theinvention is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with the production of artiflcialleaves that include two laminae, cut to identical pattern from paper, or paper-backed metal foil, or other suitable sheet material, and

assembled in precise registry, one with the other, upon an interposed stem-forming strand of wire, or nbrous thread, or fabric tape, or the like. The paired laminae are bonded to the strand, and to each other throughout their meetingfaces. In operation, the apparatus of the invention, provided with a supply of leaf-forming lmaterials,

produces the finished-article, eliminating pracl tically. al1 manual operations. Y

While the apparatus of the invention is par.- ticularly adapted for the manufacture of such cl'. 41; in such way that the drive shaft appears i crosssection with each instrumentality; y

Fig. III is la diagrammatic view, illustrating in.

plan the successive leaf-forming operations;

Fig. IV is a view comparatble withFig. II. but to larger scale, illustrating two of thev operations;

` Fig. V is a fragmentary view, `showing partly in'side elevation and'partlyin vertical section the vmeans for feeding into the machine the materials of which the leaves are formed;

Fig. VI is a .view in cross lsection, on the plane VI-VI of Fig. V, of a pairof guides included in.

said feeding means;

Fig. VII is la fragmentary view of the said feeding means, partly in elevation and partly in section, on the plane VII-VII of Fig. V;

Fig. VIII isv a view in side elevation. of the i driving gears of -the feeding means;

. chine, the plane of section extending transversely of the machine bed, and through the center of laminated leaves, we contemplate that it may with advantage be used in the production of other specific types of artificial foliage and flowers.

And while'the success of the apparatus depends in large measure, if not entirely, upon the method alluded to, it is to be noted that the method, as such, maybe practised and enioyed in apparatus other than that scribed. y

In the accompanying drawings, we illustrate a machine in which and in the operation of which Fig. II is afdiag'rammatic view of the several leaf-forming instrumentalities of the machine. 'These-instrumentalities are aligned in spacedapart relation upon the bed or base of the maherein illustrated and, de-

Fig. IX is a vertical-` cross-sectional view of the primary leaf-forming mechanism of the ymasaid mechanism;

Figs. X and XI are fragmentary views of the upper and lower dies ofthe primary forming mechanism or unit, and these two views, inconjunction with Fig. IX, illustrate successive stages of the leaf-forming operation;

Fig. XII is a fragmentary view, showing the die .of the primary forming mechanism in side elevation, and showing certain associate parts in vertical section, on the plane XII-XII of Fig.

Fig. 'X111 is a' view mbottbm pian of the said upper die, and of a stripper plate associated therewith; the sheet material from which such die successively cuts yleaf-forming laminae shown in broken and dotted lines;`

Fig. XIV' is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the chine, and aref arranged to be drivengfrom4 a comf mon drive shaft extending the length'of the-bed or base. With'this in mind, it will be understood that the showing of Fig. II is' conventionalized for purposes of illustration; that is to say,'while the kseveral forming linstrumentalities are shown inthe exact succession in which they appear in the machine, veach instrumentality has been turned on a vertical axis through-ninety degrees,

dies that form 'veins in the leaves; these dies comprise in this case the final zleaffforming instrumentalities of the machine;

Fig. XV is a diagrammaticview of the' means that deliver the wire into the machine, the wiref that forms the stems of the leaves; v

' Fig.v XVI is a schematic view of means for au- Vtomatically arresting operation of the machine if and when the leaf-forming instrumentalities function improperly:

Fig; XVII is a. fragmentary view, illustrating a r modied form of certain wire-shearing lmechanism included in the apparatus; v Y

`ed on its paper side with a film of such thermoplastic substance, and arranged in the form of a coil. v'Ihe two coils are shown at A and B in the drawings. The particular manner in which the lms of thermo-plastic material are applied to the strips is not of immediate concern, but it is important to note that the applied material is such in kind and character that it is substantially solid and dry at roomtemperature, whereby the coated strips may be readily unwound .from the coils, without the turns of the coils sticking, and without the fouling of the uncoated surfaces of the strips. 'I'he normally solid thermo-plastic material may be reduced to uid condition, say by means of heat, or by means of avolatile solvent, and sprayed upon one surface of each strip. Then the sprayed-on material is cooled, or the solvent is evaporated, with the effect that the applied lms are solidified 'and dried. In producing articial foliage, sections are cut from these film-bearing strips in the patv tern of the leaf to be simulated, and the sections stems of the leaves. In effecting this assembly and union of the leaf-forming sections or laininae with the stem-forming strand, the method of the invention is centered.

As already mentioned, we are particularly concerned with the manufacture of leaves formed of two patterned laminae that are assembled in face vto face relation upon an interposed stem-forming strand and united thereto and to each other, and, while our method is herein described in connection with the manufacture of this particular type of foliage, it will be understood that the principles of the invention may be utilized in the production of leaves that consist of a single patterned section of sheet material united to a stem element, or of more than two sections or laminae assembled vand united upon a stem element.

The stems of the leaves are formed in this case of a ductile metal wire, say a soft copper wire c, and advantageously the wire is provided` with a coating of anvadhesive substance that is similar to, if not identical with, the substance that forms the films on the strips a and b. The two leafforming strips a and b, led from the coils A and B, are brought into parallel, spaced-apart relation on opposite sides of a reach of the stem- -forming wire c (Fig. II), with the film-carrying faces of the strips directed towards each other. From each of the so disposed strips a leaf-forming lamina is cut, and the two laminae are immediately closed upon the interposed body portion of the wire, with the two laminae in precise peripheral registry and in surface-to-surface contact throughout their common area, save only in that lineal central region in which contact is made with the stem-forming wire. Heat andl pressure are applied to the assembly, the heat reducing the otherwise solid and dry thermo-plastic substance borne by the laminae and wire to plastic or adhesive condition, and the pressure effecting the union of the laminae to each other and to the interposed body portion of the wire.

t are applied and united to a strand that forms the When this has been accomplished the pressure is relieved and the united parts are allowed to cool to room temperature, with resolidiiication of the adhesive material and permanent integration of the several leaf-forming elements.

The temperature of the applied heat and the time interval of application are accurately controlled, to the end that the proper bonding of i the parts shall be insured, without danger of overheating and damaging the leaf-forming laminae. When a leaf has been thus formed, veins may be impressed in its bQdy, and its periphery may be trimmed to a more refined or elaborate outline, more closely to approximate natural leaves. and ordinarily (but not necessarily) the stem-forming wire is cut, to extend the desired interval from the basal end of the leaf.

In the conduct of such method it is conceivable that the several steps described may be conducted` in a single machine operation. However, we have found it more feasible to perform4 the veining, the refining of peripheral contour, and the stem-shearing steps in successive operations after the leaf-forming laminae have been cut and united upon the wire. Indeed, the operation of bondingthe two laminae together may be effected in two steps, rather than in one. That is to say, the laminae which'are cut to pattern and assembled upon the stem-forming wire may be initially heated and bonded in a central region, 'to obtain`primarily the integration of the two laminae to lthe interposed wire, and to each other in an area extending on opposite sides of the wire but terminating in an unbonded marginal area at the periphery of the leaf. Then in a secondary bonding operation, conveniently an operation combined with that that forms the veins, the leaf may be reheateri, the adhesive again reduced to plastic condition, and with applied pressure the bonding of the leaf-forming laminae completed through their common area. Incidentally, this resoftening of the adhesive facilitates the embossing or impressing of sharp, well-defined veins in the body of the leaf, and. when the adhesive is thereafter resolidified, as in fact it is, the capacity offthe body of the leaf to retain the impressed veins in well-defined outline is increased. With this general description of our method now presented, we shall turn to a consideration of the apparatus, and in such con sideration of the apparatus certain specific aspects of the method will be brought into focus.

Referring particularly to Figs. I and II, the adhesive-cated wire is led from a spool C through tensioning means (shown in Fig. XV and later described), over a pulley i; from the pulley I the wire passes through a straightener 2 including a line of staggered rollers 3 that in known way flex and remove kinks from the wire advanced therebetween; from the straightener 2 the wire c extends in a straight reach and in taut condition through the vsuccessive leaf-forming instrumentalities or units D, E, and F to a wire-advancing mechanism lG. The mechanism G advances the wire step-by-step in left-to-right direction, the strips a and b being intermittently advanced in coordination with the wire. In the pause between each strip-and-wire-advancing operation of the machine, the unit D functions to cut a pair of leaf-forming laminae a' and b from the two strips, and in a follow-through operation of the shearing dies of such unit the two laminae are united to the wire and to each other, forming a leaf a', b', as indicated at D'. in Figs. III and IV.

`the freely hhging weight 36 that, vto shift the sheave I8 in right-to-left direction.

sheave I8 is mounted for rotation in cross-head 32 that is slidable on a bar 33 fixed t'o the saidl framework. The Abar 33 carries rigidly at its opposite ends two bearings 34 and 35, and a weight 36, acting through a iiexible line 3l, exerts stress on the cross-head a2, tending to shift it in rightto-left direction on the bar 33. The pinch-wheels I6 are connected through a gear-box 4I (Fig. I) to an electric motor 38, whose energizing circuit 39 includes a switch 40 that normally stands in open position, with the motor 38 idle and the wheels I6 locked" against rotation by the gearsl in box 4I. So long as the motor remains de-energized, the pinch-wheels I8 anchor the wire c; that is, prevent the wire from unwinding vfrom the coil under the influence of the weight 38 acting throughsheave I8 upon the bight formed in ing the strips a and b to the leaf-formingunit the wire between the sheaves I'I and I9. 'Ihe entire length o-f the wire extending from the pinchwheels I6 to the feeding mechanism G is held under a uniform or constant tension, imposed by as said, tends As the feeding mechanism G advances or draws the wire c step-by-step through leaf-forming units D, E, F of the machine, the sheave I8 shifts in left-to-right direction, and the wire required to permit the advance n paid out from the bight between the sheavesll and I9. Thus, the wire is fed into the machine, and, manifestly, the tension on the Wire in the machine is maintained at substantially constant value, both when the wire is in course of advance and when it is at rest between the successive advances. As in the course of such operation the4 sheave I8 approaches the right-hand end of the bar 33 on which it is slidably supported, the switch 40 is closed; the motor 38 is energized; and the p inchwheels I8 are powerfully rotated, drawing wire from the supply coil C. While the wire is thus being fed in left-to-right direction through the pinch-wheels I8, it being noted that the motor 38 and wheels I8 operate to feed the wire at a slightly greater linear speed than that at which the feeding mechanism G draws the wire into the machine, the sheave I8 and its support 32 move in right-to-left direction under the pull of the weight 3S, and the length of the wire in the bight between sheaves II and I9 is increased.' As the length of wire in such bight reaches its original value, the switch 40 reopens; the motor 38 stops; and the pinch-wheels I5, coming to rest again, again anchor the wire at the point at which they engage it. All of this operation is I automatic.

The means for automatically starting and stopping' the motor 38 consist in a rod 42 slidable horizontally in therigid bearings 34, 35 on the bar 33. The rod 42 carries twoxed collars 43 and 44, spaced apart as shown, and the sheave-supporting slide or headt 32 includes a portion 45 ,that loosely embraces the rod 42. When the shfeave I8 approaches the right-hand end of its fange of movement, the portion 45 comes to abutment-upon the collar 43, whereby the rod 42 is carried with the sheave I8 in leftto.right direction until the right-hand end of the :d makes contact with the arm of switch 48, and swings it upward into circuit-closing position. At that instant the motor 38 beginsto run; the wheels I8 start their wire-feeding operation; and the sheave I8 travels right-to-left, with bight-enlarging movement. During this phase of the operation the rod 42 remains in switch-closing position, while the cross-head por- D will be considered in detail. The strip d, led

from the supply coil A, passes beneath a rubber roller 48 and through a guide 41, and in its ex- -tent between the coil and such roller the strip is by a resilient nger 48 pressed to the surface of a plate member 49. Similarly, the strip 63, vtated in unison with loo nateiy, stands idle when b is led between a finger 50 and a plate member 5I, over a roller 52, and through a guide 53. The two strips a and b are severally held in contact with the rollers 48, 52, by means of idler rolls 54 and 55, respectively; the two rollers 48, 52 are intermittently rotated in unison with the wire-advancing operations of the mechanism G, and these rollers serve to feed the two strips a and b to the leaf-sharing instrumentalities of the unit D, ln such manner as to permit successive pairs of leaf-forming laminae to be cut therefrom, one lamina of each pair from each strip, for assembly upon the wire c.

The two rollers 48 and 52 are interconnected for joint rotation, by means of gears 58 and 5 1, and on the shaft of the roller 52 a sprocketwheel 58 is mounted. A sprocket-chain 59 is trained on the sprocket-wheel; the sprocketchain, passing downward from one side o1' the sprocket-wheel, is anchored to the upper end of a tension spring 50, the spring being anchored at its lower end to a stationary portion of the machine framework. as shown in Fig. I. Extending downward from the opposite side of the an idler wheel 8|, and at its end is pivotally connected to the fly-wheel M, as at 82, at an interval from' the center of iiy-wheel4 rotation.- 'I'he sprocket-chain in such assembly is held taut, under the tension of spring 80, and, with the ily-wheel in continuous rotation, the sprocketchain is manifestly caused continuously to travel, nrst in one direction and then in the other, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. V, with the effect that the sprocket-wheel 58 is continuously rotated, iirst clockwise and then counter-clockwise. The connection of the sprocket-wheel to the shaft of roller 52 is through a ball-ratchet so organized that the shaft of roller 52 is rothe sprocket-wheel, when such wheel turns clockwise (Fig. V), and, alterthe sprocket-wheel turns counter-clockwise, retrograde turning of the rollers being prevented by means of a ratchet-gear 54 mounted on a stub-shaft 85 rigid with theV motor 38, with the4 showing oi Fig. VII, and, obviously. such adjustment affords regulation of the otherwise convanced in each rotative movement of the rollers Each of such guides consists in a pair of elongate plates of arc shape in cross section; the two arc-shaped' plates of each guide extend in parlallelism (Fig. VI), with enough space between .the plates to receive and slideably support one of the strips'a, b. The. lower plate of eachpair is continued in a tongue portion 61 that terminates at its outer end adjacent to the shearing instrumentalities of the leaf-forming unit d, and the two supported strips freely extend an interval beyond the tongue portions of the two guides, as shown in dotted lines at the right of Fig. V; the extending ends of the strips are positioned one between each of the two pairs of shearing members of the unitv D, presently to be described.

' By virtue of the particular shape of the guides, the strips a and b extending therethrough are transversely dished or bowed, aording in the otherwise flexible strips a rigidity that is adequate to sustain the ends of the strips projecting stant interval through which the strips are adstrips a and b against-'rollers 46, 52,and permitting the strips to align and center themselves,

in the mannery described above. The means alluded to consist in a lever 13 pivoted intermediate its ends to a portion 14 of the machine frame; thev upper end ofthe'leve'r is by a rod 15 connected to the cross-bar- 1|, while the lower end of the lever carries a wheel 16 that rides one of the side faces of the rim of the continuously rotating fly-wheel M. A peripherally extending cam 11 is secured to such side face of the fly-wheel,` and in the course oi? fly-wheel rotation thiscam engages the wheel 16 and swings the` lever 18 gagement with the wheel 16, theshifted part's,.

under the tension of spring 12, return to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. V.

` It will be understoodthat the strip-advancing movement of the rollers 46, 62 originates in the rotating fly-wheel M, and that the instrumentalities, which momentarily release the eng'aged strips at the end of each advance, also derive their A l movements from the said ily-wheel. Thus it is that there is absolute synchronism of the sevfrom the tongues 61 in proper horizontal position to be acted upon by the shearing members ofthe unit D. The strips advancingfrom the ends of the guides pass between lingers 61a that serve to center the projecting ends of the strips with respect to the dies 1 4and y6. After each strip-advancing rotationof the-rollers 46, 52, the idler Y rolls 54, 55 are momentarily shifted, to relieve the pressure that holds the strips secure against the' eral essential movements of the strip-feeding apparatus. And as already mentioned,the mechanism G that advances the wire c through-the of their slight inherent elasticity. in the guides,

and eliminate any tendency for the strips to buckle in the guides, or tocreep out of alignment.v Thus, we obviate any tendencyl for the strips, in prolonged periods of machine operatiOIl, to become disarranged in the guides. The paperfeeding means described permit the strips of paper to be pushed, rather than pulled, into position for the'shearing dies. Never before has l this advantageous mannerfof advancing flexible paper strips to shearing dies been achieved in l practice.

In providing for the relief of pressure `of the strips against the feeding rollers 46, 52, we journal the idler rolls 54, 55 in two rocker arms 66; 4these rocker arms are pivoted, on an axis 68 that extends between and parallel to the idler rolls, to

the two frame member 66a'and 66b (Fig. VII)` that support the rollers 46, 52. Extending downward from each arm 68 is a rod 10; the two rods 16 are united Vat their lower ends by means of machine is driven from one and the same continuously rotating shaft I that carries the ywheel M, wherefore the successive advances of the wire is positively timed with the successive vadvances of the-stripsla and b. As will now appear, the moving elements of the leaf-forming v units D to F and ofthe shears K are also driven machine are precisely-coordinated.

'Ihe unit D includes two female die members or -shear-plates 4 and 6 mounted in close parallelismon the frame 6, lone above and one below the horizontal reach of the' adhesive-coated wirel c. Note Figs. IIv and IX to XII. Each shear-plate includes an orice 6 which in plan is formed in the shapeof the patterned lami'naeof which the desired leaves are formed.v `The orifices in the two shear plates are of identical pattern, and are vertically aligned, and the peripheries` of the two orirlces provide shearing edges that severally cooperate with the correspondingly contoured peripheraledges of upper and lower shearing blocks or dies 1 andy 8in cutting patterned laminae from lthe terminals of the adhesive-faced strips a andv b that extend from the' guides 41, 53, as illusacross-bar 1i, and artensioxr spring 12 extends from such cross-arm to 'a stationary part of the machine framework. The stress of such spring,

vacting through rods 16; tends totum the rocker arms 68 counter-clockwise (Fig. V), and-thus the rolls 154,' 55 are caused yieldingly to secure the strips a and b severally in contact with the surfaces of the rollers 46, 52. Means function at the end of each. strip-advancing rotation ofthe rollers 46, 52 to swing the rods 10 against the tension of the spring 12, and such movement of the rods swings the arms 68 clockwise (Fig. V) and moves the idler rolls away from the driven rollers 46, ,52, relieving the pressure that' holds the trated in Fig V. The terminal end of the strip a is positioned, with its adhesive-bearing face directed downward, between the upper shearing 'members 4 and l (Fig. IX), while the end of strip b is positioned. with f' its adhive-bearing face directed upward, between the lower shearing members 5 and 8.

. Thetwo dies 1 and 8 are vmounted for relative i vertical reciprocation'uponposts 80 rigid'with the frame. and the means for powerfully op-f erating the dies consist in two'eccentrics-18 and 19 (Fig. II) secured upon the drive shaft'I. A pitman`8| in known way connects thejeccentric 18 with die 8, and a pitman 82-'-a yoke-like structure including two rods 83 and a cross-head l' 84-connects the eccentric 181to the die 1. The

' two eccentrics are spaced apart 180 on the shaft rst closing the dies (to cut a pair of laminae from the ends of strips a., b andassemble such laminae upon the wire c), and then opening the dies.

The dies 1 and 8, as they close in unison upon their associate shear-plates, punch or cut patterned laminae a and b' (Fig. X) from the ends of the strips a and b. Upon cutting such laminae, the closing movement of the dies 1 and 8 continues without interruption, carrying the two laminae inward (one downward and one upward) through the shearing orifices 6 in the two shearplates 4 and 5, into contact with the interposed wire c and with each other, as shown in Fig. XI. 'I'he adhesive-carrying face of one lamina bears upon the adhesive-carrying face of lthe other.

Y In such movement of the parts, the orifices 6 in the shear-plates hold the two patterned laminae a', b in vertical alignment, so that precise peripheral registry of the two laminae is obtained when they are, by the closing dies 1 and 8, brought into contact with the interposed wire c and with -each other.

(Fig. E), is effective to reduce the normally forming elements. During the opening movement oi' the dies, the mechanism -G operates to advance the wire c a step, thereby carrying the applied leaf from between the shear-plates 4 and 5 towards the unit E. And simultaneously with such advance of the wire the rollers 48, 52 are rotated, advancing the strips a and b', whereby the dies 1 and 8 in their next-ensuing closing movement are adapted to cut and assemblev upon the wire a succeeding pair of leaf-forming laminae. The operation is repeated vtime and again, and leaves a. b' are applied at spacedapart points to the wire c.

While the shear-plates I and 5 are in this case rigidly mounted on the frame 9it will be manifest that they may be mounted for relative ver.

ticalmovement, a movement such in character as will permitthetwn plates to close tightly upon the wire during the intervals in which it is at` rest between the successive actuations of the mechanism G, and, alternately, to permit the plates to open suillciently for the wire, and the leaf assembled thereon, to movefreely from between the plates when the wire is advanced.

It is important tov 4note that means are prothat carries the die 8; A circulation of cooling liquid is maintained in the hollow tube, and thus the desired ends are gained. It may also be noted that the die-supporting portion 8a is made in two sections, with a lamination 8b of asbestos, or other suitable insulating material, arranged therebetween, and serving to protect from heat the pivot-joint between the pitman 8| and the die-supporting portion 8a.

Thedie-closing stress exerted by the rods 83 is transmitted through a leaf-spring 88 to the supporting head 84 of the upper die 1, and thus it is that the pressure of the two dies upon an assembled pair of leaf-forming laminae is a yielding pressure.

We have found it to be advantageous initially Fig. XIII, the exposed surface o f theA die being in the main formed by the face `of the plunger head, leaving between the shearing vedge 1d of the die and the periphery of the plunger head a bordering die body portion 'that prbvides the required structural reinforcement or backing for the said shearing edge of t'he die. The plungerhead 1b is faced with an -elastic pad 1c of felt. When in the laminae-uniting operation the dies 1 and 8 close, the downward thrust exerted by the head 84 upon the upper die is'transmitted to the plunger 1a, with the consequence that the eiective pressure -of the dies is concentrated upon that area of thefassembled laminae which is engaged by the elastic face 1c of the plungerhead. See Fig. XI. Thus, the bonding or laminae-uniting heat and pressure applied by the dies is 'primarily effective on the central area of the laminae immediately engaged by the plunger-head 1b, leaving a marginal area in which the union of the laminae is subsequently effected-effected in this case, as appears below, in the unit F that provides the veins in the leaves.

In the achievement of this particular method of uniting the leaf-forming laminae a and 1J',A

the specific structural organization of the die 1 is important. Referring particularly to Fig. 1X,

the body of the die 1 per se is rigidly united to a carriage element 1e that is adapted to slide on the vertical posts 80. A block 1f, pivoted to the vertically reciprocated head 8l, is secured to the die 1, by means of screws 1h. 'I'he plunger 1a, extending upward through the body of die 1, is integrated with the block 1f. A space 1i is provided between the block 1f and the die 1,

l and in this space a plurality of compression springs 1k is arranged. The springs 1k: normally hold the block 1f and the die 1 in the relative vided for cooling the periphery of the heated die), in order to guard the shearing edges of the die and its associate shear-plate 5 from the thermal effects of the hot core 88, as well as to prevent thermal distortion of the die-carrying portion 8a that slides on the posts 8 0. Such means consist in a hollow metal duct 81 that is bornein die-encompassing position upon, and

positions illustrated, with the laterally extending portions 1m of the block pressed against the lheads of screws 1h, and with the felt-covered face of theplunger head 1b flush withvthe plane of the shearing edge of the die 1. It is to be noted that the block 1! is movable on the shanks of screws 1h vrelatively to the die .1 and against the stress of the springs 1k. VIn the closing movement of the dies 1 and 8 the thrust of the vhead 84 is transmitted thro'ugh the block 1j in thermal communication.v with, the portion 8a 75 and the'springs' 1k tothe die 1, and the ,aggregate strength of these springs is such thatthey do not yield to any apprciable degree when the die 1 closes upon the strip a, and shears therelfrom a leaf-forming lamina a'.' When', however,

' the die 1 in its continuing downward movement carries the laminae downward through the oriiice in the shear-pme 4y to the lamina b' pressed upwardly by the diet, stops 1n borne 'by the4 movement of the dies 1 and 8, the springs 1k return the plunger'la and its head 1b to normal position relatively to the die 1. shown in Fix.

Before describing the operations of the uxiits E and F, it should be notedthat the dies 1 and 8 are provldedwith means for cutting and removing the scrap left on the strips a and b after each pair of leaf-forming laminae have been cut therefrom. We shall describe such means in association with the upper die 1, with the understanding that similar means are organized with the lowerdie 8.

Referring tovFigs. XII and XIII, twoknives 1r are rigidly mounted on the carriage .1e that bears the die 1.. The knives are arranged onopposite sides of the die, as shown in dotted lines (1r) in Fig. XIII whichshows the die in'plany from beneath. When leaf-forming lamina has been sheared from the strip a and the die has reached the lower limit of its travel, the lower edges of these knives cooperate with the'upper surface of the shear-plate 4 in cutting away the scrap or waste w. 'I'he so-detached scrap is by means of air Jets from tubes 1s blown from the face of the shear-plate I into a waste duct 9|) (Figs. I and III) that extends to an exhaust fan and a waste the reference character a is immediately applied in Figs. III and XIII, frm,hanging on the side of the die 1, a stripper plate 1t is provided. The

stripper plate is formed snugly to embrace they vside of the die through about one-half of its peripheral extent: the plate is suspended upon two headed stems 1u from the die carriage 1e, withV r face of the stripper pl'ate positioned in a plane well known to the engineer, and it is needless to involve this specification with a considerationof them.-Upon the completion of the leaf-forming operation, the carriage 1e rises, moving the die 1 upward. As the lower face of the ascending die moves upward from the upper'face ,of the shearplate 4, the stripper plate 1t lags behind, until the lower-face ofq the die rises a slight intervall above thelower face of the stripper plate (cf. Fig. XIII), whereuponthe ascending carriage engages the heads of the stems 1u, and, during the continued ascent of the carriage Ato the top ofits range .of travel, thev stripper plate moves munison with the die.' Manifestly, the above-described lag in the rise of .the .stripper plate operates to prevent the' strip afrom hanging" or sticking to the die 1.

Turningto the unit E: This unit is brought 'into play only when it is desired. to elaboratev the peripheralcontour of the leaves cut and assembled upon Vthe wire bythe unit D, it being noted that it is preferable to limit, so far as possible, the peripheral extent of thepatterned laminae that the dies of unit D-arefr quired to cut, for

kin such way certain shearing diill'culties are avoided. Thus, if the leaves inproduction have a relatively simple contour, such as the leaf shown' at F in Fig. IV, the unitY E will not, be

needed, since the unit D isfully capable of shearing and assembling suchsimple leavesl uponthe wire. Ii, on the other hand, leaves of the elaborated periphery shown at E' are desired,'the unit E isbrought into service.

The unit E includes a shear-plate `40) (Fig. II) that.issecured.on.the frame of the unit, v.and a shearing die orpunch 100 that is mounted in a vertically reciprocated head 800. The means for reciprocating the head 800 consist in aneccentric 180 on the-shaft I, and a pitman BIO. (In Fig. I, the shear-plate is not .shownv in position of, service on the frame lll that carries it, nor is the'die 1l'llly receptacle that are not shown. In order to prevent the remaining body of the strip a, to Vwhich immediately below the lower face 'of the die 1."

When in the operation of the machine the `die 1 descends, the stripper plate, descending with the carriage, presses the strip aat against the surbling -operatione As the die reaches the lower limit of its travel, ythe waste w is cut from the. strip a, vand a. blast of compressed air is delivered to the tubes`1s with the results already mentioned. The air compressor and the valve mechanism for controlling the delivery of theair to shown in assembly with-the head 800.) The die 100 includes /shearing elements 10i that cooperate with appropriately formed orices in .the shearplate, in cutting the leaves a', bto the desired refined configuration. That is, in` the step-bystep advance of the'wire c, the leaves applied by the unit'D to the wire are successively carried to, andfbrought momentarily to rest upon, the shear'- f plate 0, and in` the intervals between the suc- Icjessive advances ofthe wire the diel'lll, inconjunction with the shear-plate, cuts the leaves to thedesired elaborated form.

In the unit F two things are accomplished: l, veins are impressed in the bodies of the leaves, as shown at z in the leaf F' of Fig. IV; 2, the two laminae oi' each leafare united in the marginal area in which union was not completed in the unit D. To this end the unit F includes` a leafreceiving anvil 9|, rigidly mounted on the stationary frame or base I-l of the unit .(Fig.` I). 'Ivhe work-receiving face of the anvil is formed of a felt pad"92 (Figs. II and XIV) that in plan isJ fashioned to the exact shape of the leaves a', li"v registry with, such anvil pad. Above the pad a the tubes 1s are not illustratedfthese are things 75 .die 83 is organized. This die is carried by a vertically reciprocable yoke 9B, and such yoke is continuously reciprocated, .by means of an eccentric 84 on' the drive-shaft I and 'a pitman 95. The die is provided on its lower face with outstanding' ribs 91 (Fig. XIV) in the pattern of the veins to be .impressed in the leaves; and, as each leaf is brought to position of rest onk the anvil, the die,

the leaf is engaged by the vein-impressing ribs 91. The pressure of the die upon thevwork is a resilient pressure, a spring 98 being arranged to transmit the thrust of the reciprocating yoke 3G to the die. The tension of the spring is adjustable, by means of a follower block 09and screw@ wheel 00-a well-known device for such purpose.

The die 93is heated by means of electric heating elements' |0I, after the mannerthat the die of the unit D is heated, andthus the machine is adapted to subject the assembled leaves to a second application of heat. 'I'his second application of heat resoftens the thermo-plastic coatings by means of whichthe paired-leaf-forming laminae are united to each other and to the wire, and in consequence the two laminae of each leaf, being initially bonded on a central area by the dies of unit D, are by the anvil and die of unit F bonded on the marginal area that surrounds said central area. Whereas in the unit D the heat is applied to the lower lamina b' of each-leaf, in the unit F the heat is applied to the upper lamina a'. Thus, in the course of the several leafforming operations, heat is vtwice applied to the assembled laminae of each leaf, and it is applied to opposite sides of the leaf. v This secondary softening of the thermo-plastic coatings on the laminae is valuable, in that it renders the laminar bodies of the leaves more susceptible to the veinmpressing effect of the`die 93. Additionally,` it improves the integration of the laminae when,

as the leaves pass from the unit F, the thermo-v plastic material Aagain solidifles.

Upon. passing from the unit F and through the wire-advancing mechanism G, the leaves are successively presented to the shears K. 'I'he two co- A operating cutters of `the shears, to which the ref-V erence character K is immediately applied in Fig.

I, are severally organized with two cams |02 on the drive-shaft I; that is, each cutter, mounted in the frame I3 for relative vertical movement. Vis organized with a vertically reciprocable connecting rod -|03 that carries atits lower end a roller |05 that rides the'rm of its associate cam. .The cutters are operated in cadence with the successive advances of the leaf-bearing wire cand they serve to cut the wire in the manner already described, to provide extending stems c on each leaf.

In Figs. XVII and XVIII, we Aillustrate a modiiledl form ofthe wire-cutting instrumentalities. In such modified structure a vertical frame 200 is pivoted at its 'upper end to a bracket 20| that is borne by the machine bed H. The frame 200 carries rigidly at its lower end a shear-blade 202, and at an interval thereabove it supports a vertically reciprocable shear-blade 203; the reciprocable shear-'blade 203 is by a link 200 ofl non-magnetic material connected to the vertical armature 205 of an electro-magnet 200; the electro-magnet is normally de-energized,and a spring 201 normally holds the armature in elevated position, but upon energization of the electro-magnet the armature 205 is propelled downward, driving the upper blade 203 into shearing position with respect to the lower blade 202. The leaf-bearing wire c, delivered by the wire-advancing mechanism G (which'is not shown in Fig. XVII, but will.be understood to be arranged imat the leading point or tip of each leaf a', b'

secured to the wire.

This electro-magnetically operated shearing mechanism includes a delicate electrical switch 200 arranged in the energizing circuit of magnet 200. This switch, carried on an arm 200 that at one end is pivoted on a pin 2|0 to the frame 200, normally is supported (by the said arm 209) in position above the course of advance of the wire-home leaves a', b', and, when the switch is supported in such position, the operating finger 2|| of the switch stands in circuit-interrupting position. That is to say, the switch is supported in elevated, circuit-interrupting position when the wire c is at rest between the successive advances imparted thereto by the mechanism G. When, however, the wire c is advanced, and each time that it is advanced, means function to swing the arm 209 downward, moving the switch into such position that its operating finger 2|| stands vertically athwart the line of advance of the leaves a', b'. The leaf from whose leading tip the wire c is next to be cut (that is, the second from the leading leaf in the line of advance) strikes the switch finger 2| and carries it into circuit-closing position. The magnet 200 is energized, and the shear-blade 203 driven downward, to cut the wire c precisely at the tip of such leaf, thereby releasing the foremost -leaf in the line, which falls i into` a chute, or into a suitable receptacle. The

whereby the device operates as "flying" shearsshears that travel with the work, and function while traveling.

More particularly. in each pause between the successive advances of the wire c, the arm 200 is swung downward and the switch 200 lowered into operating position, and immediately thereafter the frame 200 is swung in clockwisedirection (Fig. XVII), so that the shears and switch are moved to meet the next-to-the-leading leaf, and then, as the wire c advances, to move in unison with the advancingleaf (the frame 200 swinging lcounter-clockwise the while), while the shears are magnetically operated to sever'the wire in the manner described. The means for edecting such movements of the frame 200 and the switchbearing arm 209 consistA in a lever 2|2 pivoted at 2I3 to a bracket 2M on theframe200; a rod 2|5 connects the switch-supporting ann 200 with said lever 2|2, as shown; a rod 2l! extends downward from the distal end of lever 2|2, and such rod 2|0 extends at its vlower end slideably through an arm 2H that rides the surface of a cam 2I0 on the common drive shaft I of the machine, Vthe drive shaft being shown, for clarity of illustration, normal to the Plane of the paper, when as a matter of fact it extends parallel to such plane beneath the bed members H. A compression spring 2|! is arranged between the body of the arm 2| 'I and a nut 220 on the lower end of the rod 2|0; a nut 22| on the rod 2I0 bears on the top of cam-arm 2I1, and a tension spring 222 exv erts an upward stress on the said arm 2H, holding the arm to the cam 2|0, and, by abutment ofy the arm on the nut 22|, urging the rod 2|0 upmediately to the left of the frame 200), passes Ward. With'the parts in the positions shown, and

the frame 200 bearing against-a stop 223 carried by bracket 20|. i

In service, the continuously rotated shaft I, in conjunction with the cam 2|8, functionally integrates and coordinates the electro-magnetically operated shearing mechanism with the other leaf-forming instrumentalities of the machine. Specifically, in the pauses between' successive advances of the wire c, the cam 2|8 operates to swing the arm 2|1 downward; in consequence the rod 2|6 is by stress exerted through spring 2|9 pressed downward and the lever 2|2 is swung clockwise, effecting rst the downward movement of the switch-supporting arm 209,`and then the clockwise turning of the frame 200 through an angle suflicient to bring the finger 2|| of the then lowered switch into'contact with the leaf (a', b', Fig. XVII) at whoseleading end the wire c is to be severed. More specifically, the downward movement of the rod 2|6 and the swing of the lever 2|2 initially effects only the switchlowering movement of the arm 209, the frame 200 remaining at rest; however, when the switch reaches fully lowered position the arm 209 strikes a stop 224 (Fig. XVIII) on the frme 200, with the consequence that, further downward movement of the arm 209 thus prevented, the lever 2 |2 as it may be. The length of the leaf-'contacting arm portion |a slightly exceeds the interval between successive leaves on the wire 0,. and so long as the unit D functions properly to apply the leaves to th'e wire, the arm 30| is by engagement with the leaves sustained in the position shown. When. however, the unit D fails to function properly leaves advanced over the platform 300, and this breach coming in the succession of leaves to the platform deprives theI arm portion 30|a of its support. The arm 300 thereupon swings in clockwise direction. In order that the swing may, for convenience, be through a greaterr interval than would be permitted by the thickness of the leaves alone, the platform 300 is slotted, as at 305, and the proportions of the slot are such that the arm portion 30|a may, under conditions present,- ly to be described, enter the slot and permitthe arm 30| to swing through an interval sumcient to elevate the switch 303 into position to be,

engaged by a finger 306 borne ,on the vertically 'reciprocating carriage 1e of theupper die I of becomes in effect rigidly integrated with the frame 200, and such frame swings with the lever under the pull of rod 2|6. Thus, the frame carries the switch and shears tovmeet the work. As theA wire c immediately thereafter is advanced, the edge of the particular leaf a', b moves against the switch finger 2| closing the switch,

energizing the magnet 206, and operating the shears. The cam 2 I8 -is so designed and the tension of spring 2I9 is so determined that the frame may yield before the advancing leaf, resisting merely enough for the leaf to press the switcharm 2|| into circuit-closing position. Thus, an

i exceedingly effective shearing mechanism is pro. vided-a mechanism that functions to cut the Wire precisely at the tip of 'each -leaf delivered thereto.' l

One other feature of the machine merits pary ticular attention. It consists in means for automatically bringing the machine to a stop, in case the unit D fails to function properly', Referring to Fig. XVI such means include a platform 300 mounted on the machine framework; in such position that the leaves a', b applied to the wire c slide iiatV upon the surface of the platform in the course of their advance with the wire from the unit D to the succeeding leaf -rening instrumentalities E and F of the machine. -Above the position, `the energizing circuit of the motor P remains closed and the motor remains in operation.

Extending from the right of the axis 302, the

`arnr30| includes a portion 30|a that, exceeding the weight of theswitch and the portion of the -arm on the left of the axis, bears lightly upon the leaves a', b advanced by the wire c over the platform 300. The arm portion 30|a extends parallelto the leaf-carrying wire^c,; but bears upon the leaves to one side of the'wi're, or on opposite sides of the wire if the arm portion'is made bifurcate (as viewed in plan from above) swings clockwise, raising the unit D. .(See Fig. IX.) The carriage 1e is shown in Fig. XVI at the lower limitof its range of vertical reciprocation, and, so long as the switch 303 remains in the illustrated normal position, the finger 306 does not contact the switch-arm 304, that is, the switch normally remains in circuit-interrupting position. When, however, the unit D fails to function properly and the resultant breach in the succession of Vleaves on the vwire c comes to registry with the slot 305, the support, ldrops into the portion 30|a of arm 30|, freed of slot 305;A the arm 30|. the switch 303 into'such position that the vertically reciprocating lfinger 306 engages the switch-arm 304and closes the control circuit in which the switch 303 is in: cluded. In known way the closing of the switch may, as indeed it is, be adapted to open the ener-v gizing circuit of the motor P and thus bring the 4shaft I to rest. The operation of the entire machine may be thus interrupted, whereupon such rectification or repair as is necessary may be made. It may be mentioned that the ,dimensions and'organization of the parts are such that the shaft I, when the' switch. 303 has been operated in emergency, always comes to rest in the position in which the dies 1 and 8 of unit D are open,

' wherefore the shear-plates l and 5 are not subapplying and solidifying a lm of such substance ject to the heat of die 8 at rest.

y Needless to say many modications, variations.' refinements and elaboration's in the method and apparatus described are permissible, without departing from the inventiondeiined below. In

`the claims the words leaf and foliage ware words of denition and not limitation, and are intended to include not merely various forms of artificial leaves and foliage butarticial flowers,

and the like, aswell. Similarly, the word wire is usedin a general sense,'to include the various stem-forming materials lthat ymay be used, Vas mentioned in the introductory passagesof the specification. l i

We claim as our invention:

1. The method of producing artificial foliage that comprises applying and solidifying a coat of thermo-plastic substance uponv a long wire and upon an elongate strip of leaf-forming material, advancing such wire in the vdirection of its extent'and advancing said strip in synchronsm therewith, cutting to the pattern of the desired in applying leaves to the` wire, there will be a breach in the succession of other and to the wire, assembled and united pairs of laminae to refined leaf' successive leaf-forming sections from the advancing strip and applying such sections to'the wire atr spaced-apart4 points in its extent, reducing with applied heat the coat and lm respectively carried by said wire and said leafforming sections to plastic or adhesive condition, and under applied pressure bonding the leaf sections to the wire, with subsequent resolidiflcation of the thermo-plastic substance of said coat and film 2. The method of producing artificial foliage that comprises providing upon one surface of each of two strips of sheet material a lm of thermo-plastic material in solidiiled and dry condition, cuttinga leaf-forming lamina from each of such film-bearing strips and immediately bringing the two laminae together in peripheral registry on-opposite sides of a leaf-stem-forming strand, with the nlm-bearing surfaces of the two laminae in contact, and, under the influence of heat and pressure, reducing the lmscarried by the laminae to plastic or adhesive condition and uniting the laminae to the interposed wire and to each other, with subsequent resolidication of the thermo-plastic substance of the laminae-uniting films 3. The method of producing artificial foliage that comprises providing upon one surface. of at least one of two strips of sheet material a lm of adhesive material, advancing an elongate wire in the direction of its length, advancing said two strips of sheet material in courses spaced from and on opposite sides of the course of advance of said wire. with said nlm-carrying surface of one strip faced towards the other strip and with the wire extended between thestrips, cutting from the so-advanced strips successive pairs of leaf-forming laminae and closing the laminae of the several pairs upon the intervening wire at longitudinally spaced points in the other, upon a'ninterposed stem-forming strand, reducing under momentarily applied heat the extent of the wire and in registered surfaceto-surface contact with each other, and under applied pressure bonding the laminae of each pair to each other and to the wire, and parting the wire in-the intervals between the bonded pairs of laminae.

4. The method of producing lartificial foliage that comprises providing upon one surface of at least one of two strips of sheet material a lm of `adhesive material, advancing an elongate wire in the direction of its length, advancing said vwo strips of sheet material'in courses spaced from and on opposite sides of the course of ad-V vance of said wire, with said nlm-carrying surface of one strip faced towards the other strip and 'with the wire extended between the strips,

cutting from the advanced strips successive pairs of leaf-forming laminae and closing the laminae of the several pairs upon the intervening wire at longitudinally spaced points in the extent of the wire and in registered surface-to-surface contact with each other, and under applied pressure bonding'the laminae of each pair to each shearing the successively peripheral contour, and'parting the wire in the intervals between the bonded pairs of laminae.

5. The-method of producing artificial foliage that comprises applying and solidifying upon 'sheet material a film of thermo-plastic substance, cutting to pattern from such film-bearing material a plurality of leaf-forming laminae and immediately bringing the laminae pair by pair in registered position, with the film-bearing face thermo-plastic lms carried by such laminae to plastic or adhesive condition, and under applied pressure bonding the registered laminae to said interposed strand and to each other; with subsequent resolidification of the thermo-plastic substances.

6. 'I'he method of producing artificial foliage that comprises applying toa strand of wire and to sheet material severally films of thermoplastic substance that is dry at room temperature, cutting to pattern from such sheet material a. plurality of leaf-forming laminae, vassembling the laminae pair by pair in registered position, with the nlm-bearing face of one laminaagainst the film-bearing face o f Athe other, upon opposite sides of said strand of Wire, reducing the lms of thermo-plastic substance to adhesive condition, and under applied pressure bonding the registered laminae to said strand and to each other. i

'7. 'I'he method of producing artificial foliage that comprises distributing upon at least one of a plurality of sheets of leaf-forming material a lm of thermo-plastic substance that is dry at room temperature, cutting in predetermined pattern from each of such sheetsda leaf-forming laminae. applying such laminae in registered face-to-face position upon opposite sides of aV stem-forming strand, reducing said thermoplastic substance to adhesiyecondition, and unJ der applied pressure bonding the registered laminae to said strand and to each other.

8. The method of producing artificial foliage that, comprises distributing upon at least one of a plurality of sheets of leaf-forming material a film of thermo-plastic substance that is dry at room. temperature, and providing on a strand for forming the stems of such thermo-plastic substance cutting in predetermined lpattern from such sheets leaf-forming laminae, applying a plurality of such laminae in registered face-to-face position on opposite sides of said stem-forming strand, reducing said thermo-plastic substance to adhesive condition,

delivering two strips of sheet material, faced sections to the wire and with an adhesive, into position on opposite sides of a reach of wire, with the bodies of the two strips spaced fromthe wire' and with the adhesive carrying faces of the strips directed towards one another, punching a patterned section from each strip and under the impulse of the punching instrumentalities carrying the two patterned sections into contact with the interposed wire and with each other, and, under the inuencemf. l

bonding said patterned to each other. 10. The method herein described that comsaid instrumentalities,

' prises applying to an elongate strand"a coating of one lamina against the film-bearing face of of thermo-plastic substance in liquid condition, advancing the strandy step by step in a course that extends adjacent an interval between successive advances vof said strand shearing a, patterned leaf from sheet material fed, to said die, and, while the coating on sure of the shearing instrumentality, with subsequent solidiication` of the thermo-plastic 'substance, and upon an. ensuing advance-of the such leaves a film of' to a shearing die, and instrand severing A'the standat a from the applied leaf.

11. The method herein described that ccmprises applying to a sheet'of leaf-forming mapoint spaced terial a film of thermo-plastic substance in liquid member for detachlng from such sheet material the scrap material left by the removal of said patterned element therefrom.l

18. The structure of claim 13, together with means cooperating with said die and oriflced member for detaching from such sheet material the scrap material left by the removal of said. patterned element therefrom, and pneumaticl means for blowing "the detached scrap material from between the die and oriflced member. ,n

. '19. 'Ihe structure'of claim 13, together with means cooperating with said die and oriced member for detaching from such sheet material the scrap-material left by the removal of said patterned element therefrom, and pneumatic' means for blowing the detached scrap material from between the die and orificed member, and

prises arranging two strips of sheet material, at

least one of which is faced with adhesive ma` L terial indry condition, into position on opposite sides of a reach of wire, with said adhesive-car- 'rying face directed towards the wire, punching a patterned section from each strip and immediately closing the two patterened sections upon the interposed wire and upon each other, and while the se'ction's are under the influence of the punching instrumentalities, reducing said adhesive tol plasticcondition and bonding the said "sections too the wire and to each other.

' 13. Apparatus for the manufacture` of an artificial leaf, comprising a member having a shearing orifice conforming in outline to the pattern of the leaf to be formed, means adapted to feed the end of a stripl of sheet material vinto position over said orifice, means for sustaining a leaf-stem-forming wire in position beneath said orifice, a shearing die arranged above said oriflced member, and means for closing said die upon the orificed member to shear from said sheet material a patterned leaf-forming element, said last means adapted .to continue such dieclosing movement, carryingthe die into said orifice, with the effect that said patterned element is brought to leaf-forming assembly with said wire.

14. Apparatus for" the manufacture of an artificial leaf comprising a member. having a shearing orifice conforming vin outline to the pattern of the leaf ,to be formed, means adapted to feed to position over said oric'e the end of a strip of sheet material carrying adhesive on its nether surface, means for sustaining a leafstem-forming wire in position beneath said oriflee, a shearing die arranged above said oriiiced member, and means for closing said die upon the orificed member to shear from said sheet material a patterned leaf-forming element, said last suction means for receiving said scrap Amaterial and leading it toa point of disposal.

20. The structure of claim 13, togetherwith stripper means for preventing the sheet material from which said patterned element is sheared from sticking to said die.

21. The structure of claim 13, said strip-feedv ing means including a guiding device provided with a way of curved cross section through which the strip isadvanced, whereby the strip tends to remain aligned in the rectilinear course of its advance, as described.

22. The structure of claim 13, together with means for impressing veins in the patterned elements applied to said wire, and means operating in coordination with said shearing die for advancing said wire, to carry said elements applied to the wire from beneath said orificed memf berto said vein-impressing means.

23.A Apparatus for the manufacture of an artiflcial leaf comprising a member having a shearing orifice conforming. in4 outline to the pattern of the leaf tobe formed, means adapted to feed to. position over said orifice the end of a strip of sheet material carrying thermo-plastic substance on its' nether surface, means for sustain-v in'g a leaf-stem-forming wire in position beneath said orifice, a, heated member beneath said wire, a shearing die arranged above said orificed member, and means for closing said die upon thel l oriced member to shear from said sheet material a patterned leaf-forming element, said last means adapted to continue such die-closing movement, carrying, the de into said orifice, carrying said patterned element through said orice to position uponsaid wire, and pressing the wire and patterned element against said heated memberwith the Pl'ect that said thermo-plastic substance is reduced to adhesive condition and said patterned element is bonded to said wire.

means adapted to continue suchv die-closing` ,movement carrying the die into said orifice and carrying said patterned element through said orifice and uniting it to said wire.

' 15. The structure ofclaim 13, in which said die includes inset in its body a plug, together "with ymeans for advancing the plug when the die f is in fully advanced position in said orifice, for

a heated member beneath said-wire:v a shearing die arranged above'said oriced member, andl tially uniform tension, and means for shifting the tensioned wire when said patterned element has been united thereto.

17. VThe structure of claim 13, together with means cooperatingwith said die and oriiced u 24. Apparatus for the manufacture of' an artificial leaf comprising a member having a shearing orifice conforming in outline to the pattern of the leaf to be formed, means adapted to feed to position overv said orifice' the end of a ystrip 'of sheet material, means for sustaining a leaf-stem-forming wire, coated with thermo?,

plastic substance, in position beneath said orifice,

means for closingsaid die upon the orificed member to shear from said, sheet material a patterned leaf-forming element, said last means adapted tovcontinue the movement Lof said die into said orifice, carrying said patter f element through said orifice and into positie pon said wire and pressing the wire and' patterned i element against vsaid heated member, -with the the vein-forming effect of thedies effect that said thermo-plastic substance is reduced to adhesive condition and said patterned element is bonded to said wire, said shearing orifice providing means for guiding the leafforming element into centered position upon said wire.

.25. Apparatus for the manufacture of articial leaves comprising a member having a shearing orifice Aconforming in outlineto the pattern of the leaves to be formed, means for intermittently advancing the end of a strip of sheet material into position over said orifice. means for intermittently. to carry said paired elements on the wire successively into position of registry with the dies, means for closing the dies upon sustaining a leaf-stem-forming wire in taut position beneath said orifice, said means including mechanism for advancing said wire step by step in` the direction of its extent, a shearing die arranged abovesaid orificed member, and means for reciprocating said die, to close die uponthe' oriced member in the intervals between the successive advances of the wire and causing the die to shear from said sheet material successive patterned leaf-forming elements, saidlast means adapted to continue each shearing movement of the die into said orifice,` with the eect that the several leaf-forming elements are assembled in spaced-apart relation upon said ini termittently advanced wire.

26. In a machine for the manufacture of artiiicial foliage, die means 'for shearing' leafforminglaminae from sheet material, means for delivering a strip of such material to said dieV means, said means including a guide of curved cross section for the strip, whereby the strip advanced therethrough is provided with a selfaligning and sustaining rigidity, means for feeding the strip step by step through 'said' guide, said last means including a pair of feeding rollers between which the strip is engaged, means for intermittently rotating said rolls, and means for separating the rolls between each strip-advancing rotation of the rolls, momentarily to release the strip, forthe purpose described.

27. Means for feeding a strip of sheat material the leaf-forming elements thus brought into position between them, at least one of said dies including die-heatingmeans, whereby, as the dies close to impress veins in said paired leafforming elements, said thermo-plastic substance is momentarily reduced to plastic condition, to augment the vein-forming operation.

30. The structureof claim 29, in which the leaf-forming elements of each of said pairs of elements advancing to the veining dies vare cen-` trally united ,to each other and to the wire by said thermo-plastic substance, said veining dies including portions effective marginally to unite the 4paired elements in the course of the veinimpressing operation of the dies.

31. A machine for the manufacture of artificial foliage including means for sustaining a wire under tension, means for advancing .the tensioned wire step by step, means operating be,

tween the successive advances of the wire to shear leaf-forming elements from sheet material and apply such elements to said wire. means for feeding sheet material to said shearing means in cadence with operation of said wire-advancing means, means for impressing veins in said leaves. said means adapted in the successive advances of said wire to receive successively the leaf-forming Aelements applied thereto. said veining means operating in the intervals of rest of the wire to impress veins in the leaf-forming elements received thereby.

32. The structure of claim 31, together with shearing instrumentalities arranged between the shearing dies first mentioned `and the veining means for rening the peripheral contour of the leaf-forming elements applied to said wire.

'33. The structure of claim 3l, together with means operating in synchronlsm with the means to the dies of a machine for producing artificiall foliage, said means including a guide forming an elongate way through which the strip is advanced, said way being of curved cross section, whereby the strip, correspondingly curved, is provided with a rigidity adequate .to make the stripl self sustaining when projected an interval from the guide.-

28. In apparatus' for the manufacture of artiilcia] foliage, means for applying at spaced-apart points to a wire patterned leaf-forming elements coated with thermo-plastic substance, means for impressing veins in said elements, said defined therein to sever the wire between the successive leaf-forming elements applied thereto.

34. A machine for the manufacture of an artificial leaf and the like including amachine frame, a pair of plates each including an orifice in the pattern of such leaf, said plates being mounted in said frame in parallel relation and with the orifices therein in alignment. said plates being adapted to' receive between their inner or V'facing surfaces a leaf-stem-forming wire, and adapted to receive on their outer surfaces each means including a pair of veining dies, means extent of the wire, said leaf-forming elementsbeing united with thermo-plastic substance, means for impressing veins in said paired elements on the wire, said means including a pair of veiningl diesl means for advancing saidwire a web of sheet material, a shearing'die organized vwith each plate, means for reciprocating said dies simultaneously relatively to said plates 4to cut, in cooperation with the oriflcestherein, two

leaf-forming laminae from said webs, said diereciprocating means being effective to carry said dies inward of their associate orifices, bringing the two laminae together on opposite sides of said wire and into bonding surface-to-surf contact.

35. The structure of claim 34, in which at lleast one of said dies includes means for heating the vdie centrally.

36. The structure of claim 34, in which one of said dies includes a central plug, and means ,for

shifting said plug relatively to the die when 4the two dies have brought said patterned laminae together on the intervening wire, with theeffect that the bonding pressure on said laminae is concentrated over aportion of the common area of said laminae.

37. The structure of claim 34, in which at least one of .said dies includes means for heating- 

